Comparison of the microbial communities of alpacas and sheep fed diets with three different ratios of corn stalk to concentrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of ruminal microbial communities of alpacas (Lama pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed three diets with varying ratios of roughage (corn stalk) to concentrate, 3:7 (LS), 5:5 (MS) and 7:3 (HS). Six alpacas (one-year-old and weighing 29.5 ± 7.1 kg) and six sheep (one-year-old and weighing 27.9 ± 2.7 kg) were used in this study, in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Total protozoa concentration was determined under the microscope; total fungi and methanogens were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed as a percentage of total bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies; bacterial communities were investigated by targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) sequencing. The percentage of fungi was significantly higher in alpacas than in sheep under the LS diet, while the concentration of protozoa was significantly lower in alpacas under HS, MS and LS diets. The alpha diversity including Shannon, Chao l and ACE indices of bacterial communities was higher in alpacas than in sheep, under the LS diet. A total of 299 genera belonging to 22 phyla were observed in the forestomach of alpaca and sheep, with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes dominating both animal species. Phyla Armatimonadetes and Fusobacteria, as well as 64 genera, were detected only in alpacas, whereas phyla Acidobacteria and Nitrospira, as well as 44 genera, were found only in sheep. The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, including Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio, was higher in alpacas than in sheep under all three diets. These differences in the forestomach microbial communities partly explained why alpacas displayed a higher poor-quality roughage digestibility, and a lower methane production. Results also revealed that the adverse effects of high-concentrate diets (70%) were lesser in alpacas than in sheep.     

The microbial diversity and structure in peatland forest in Indonesia

The microbial community structure and function under forest in tropical peatlands are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the microbial community structure and diversity in natural peat swamp forest soil, disturbed peat soil and mineral soil in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, using 454 pyrosequencing. The results showed that the natural peat soil had the greatest fungal species richness (Chao1), which was significantly (p < .05) larger than that in the other two soils. Community structure of both fungi and bacteria in natural peat soil differed significantly from that in the disturbed peat soil (p = .039 and p = .045, respectively). Ascomycota (40.5%) was the most abundant phylum across the three soils followed by Basidiomycota (18.8%), Zygomycota (<0.1%) and Glomeromycota (<0.1%). The linear discriminant analysis with effect size (LEfSe) showed that Ascomycota (p < .05) and genus Gliocephalotrichum (p < .05) dominated in natural peat soil. Functionally, pathotrophs were more abundant in disturbed peat soil (p < .05). Proteobacteria (43.8%) were the most abundant phylum followed by Acidobacteria (32.6%), Actinobacteria (9.8%), Planctomycetes (1.7%). Methylocystis, Telmatospirillum, Syntrophobacter, Sorangium and Opitutus were the more abundant genera in disturbed peat soil, whereas Nevskia and Schlesneria were more abundant in mineral soil and natural peat soil, respectively. The natural peat forest soil supported a more diverse microbiology; however, the land use of such a soil can change its microbial community structure. The results provide evidence that the disturbance of tropical peat land could lead to the introduction and spread of a large number of fungal diseases     

社会林业与五指山的自然保护

五指山自然保护区是世界上现存地势最高的原始热带雨林之一，是我省目前面积最大的自然保护区，也是海南三大河流的发源地。但由于保护区横跨琼中、通什、保亭三县、市，紧邻保护区还生存着众多贫困的黎、苗族村民。因此，保护区与周边社区的联系是十分紧密的，社区的发展也直接影响到五指山热带天然林的保护。海南省林业局中德海南热带林保护和恢复项目在社会林业与五指山森林的保护上做出了有益的尝试，就在全省来说，也是首次对社会林业与森林保护上进行的探索。五指山地区社会林业的研究，对保护海南热带雨林也有着积极的意义。特对社会林业与五指山的森林保护进行了阐述、分析和设想。     

不同放牧强度对滩羊生产性能影响的研究

为寻找适宜宁夏盐池县草地的放牧强度,于2003年5-11月在该县四墩子试点设5个处理(0.45、0.60、1.75、1.05和1.50只/hm2)进行轮牧,轮牧周期为42 d,共放牧154 d。结果表明:1)滩羊采食量随放牧强度的加重而降低。同一放牧强度下,随放牧时间推移,采食量先逐渐增大而后下降。2)在试验期内,不同放牧强度下,滩羊体重随时间推移总体上都呈增加趋势。在10月2日之后体重开始出现分化。与放牧强度重的处理相比,放牧强度轻的处理日增重峰值较高,持续时间较长。3)滩羊个体增重与放牧强度之间存在着强的负相关;单位草地面积(1 hm2)增重与放牧强度之间呈强的正相关,初步可以确定在该类草地上放牧强度应在0.75只/hm2左右。4)随着放牧强度的加重,饲料报酬先增大后减小。在同一放牧强度下,饲料报酬随时间的推移先升高后降低。5)当放牧强度超过0.75只/hm2以后,滩羊出现了空怀、产羔率降低和推迟怀孕的现象。6)综合考虑各研究指标,该类草地放牧强度以不应超过0.75只/hm2为宜。     

高产奶牛福利

近20年，荷斯坦牛成为优势奶牛品种，营养改善促使奶牛产奶量大幅度增加，工厂化管理致使奶牛运动量减少、生产性疾病频发，奶牛康乐受到严重威胁，因此，改善高产奶牛福利的呼声高涨。本文以生产性疾患为中心，从规模化生产、遗传改良、畜舍环境等角度讨论了高产奶牛的福利问题。     

关中地区几种苜蓿地上生物量初步研究

对5个苜蓿Medicago sativa品种的地上生物量形成规律进行了初步研究.结果表明:苜蓿生物量的增长速率不仅与本身生理特性有关,而且与环境密切相关;株高在分枝末期现蕾初期增长速度快.绝对生长速率与相对生长速率在分枝末期现蕾期都较大,此时的水分管理具有重要意义;不同苜蓿品种的群落结构大多为菱形;同化系统与非同化系统的比值随高度的增加而减少.     

施肥对红三叶群落营养元素含量和积累量的影响

本文研究了施肥对红三叶群落地上部和地下部 1 0种营养元素的影响 ,结果如下 :( 1 )从含量看 ,施氮肥后 ,地上部B明显降低 ,地下部B明显升高 ;施磷肥后 ,地上部N、B显著下降 ,地下部K、P、N上升幅度较大。 ( 2 )就积累量而言 ,施氮肥后 ,地上部大多数元素增高 ,地下部多数元素降低或无变化 ;施磷肥后 ,无论地上部还是地下部 ,大多数元素均有所增高     

Analysis of the Impact of Alfalfa Forage Production under Summer Water-Limiting Circumstances on Productivity, Agricultural and Growers Returns and Plant Stand

The trade-off between summer water conservation from alfalfa production and the effects on plant growth, agricultural crop value, and grower returns in the low desert area (Imperial, Palo Verde, Parker and Yuma Valleys of California and Arizona) was analysed using an experimental plot in the Palo Verde Valley. The purpose was to provide a basis for evaluating water conservation decisions and policies. Four summer dry-down periods (withdrawing water for a predetermined period) of 0 days (control), 35 days, 70 days, and 105 days were analysed. Our results show that whereas the various dry-down periods would provide water conservation ranging from 254 to 944 million m³, the region would experience agricultural income decline by US $16 to US $73 million. For growers, benefits of dry-down would be effective only if the water price exceeds US $0.045 m⁻³ in California and US $0.036 m⁻³ in Arizona. Also dry-down would have possible adverse effects in the following areas including declines in plant stand density, long-term productivity, service industry sales, employment and biological benefits of soil fertility and organic matter that is attributed by the alfalfa plant in which case agriculture's and growers monetary losses could increase.     

科尔沁沙地差巴嘎蒿——杂类草群落结构、功能的沙漠化演变特征

研究结果表明：在沙漠化发展过程中，差巴嘎蒿－－杂类草群落（1）首先是植物种组成数量和密度大幅度减少，继而植被盖度和地上生物量急剧下降，四项指标受沙漠化影响的强弱顺序是密度＞植物种数量＞工＞地上生物量；（2）结构趋于简单，功能逐渐消退，优势种或亚优势种发生更替，群落最终变性；（3）沙漠化演变既有连续性又有间断性，随着沙漠化的加剧，其连续性变弱，间断性增强，变幅增大；（4）轻度沙漠化时群落稳定性最高，严重沙漠化可导致其稳定性迅速破坏；（5）对沙漠化的危害，表现出一定的时滞效应和自我适应调节能力，这两个问题有等于进一步研究。     

甑峰山苔藓植物群落组成的考察报告

本文根据所采标本和野外实地观察记录,比较详细地描述了甑峰山苔藓植物的群落组成,初步揭示了该山各种生态环境下苔藓植物的生长分布规律。